NIH SBIR/STTR Formatting Rules and Page Limits (2026)

Quick Answer

NIH SBIR/STTR applications must follow specific font, spacing, margin, and file rules, along with page limits for each attachment. These live on NIH's Format Attachments page and the Table of Page Limits, and they are most heavily scrutinized on page-limited sections like the Specific Aims and Research Strategy. Exceeding a page limit is one of the most common triggers for automatic rejection, so build every attachment to these rules from the start rather than reformatting at the end. As always, your NOFO can set different numbers, and where it does, the NOFO wins.

Formatting Rules

Font. Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, or Palatino Linotype, 11 point or larger. Figure captions, equations, and symbols may drop below 11 point, but only if they remain legible at 100 percent zoom.

Density and spacing. No more than 15 characters per linear inch and no more than 6 lines per vertical inch, which works out to roughly single spacing.

Margins. At least one-half inch on all four sides, on every page. Nothing you supply may appear in the margins, headers, or footers, and you should not add your own page numbers. Pagination is system-generated.

Paper size. No larger than standard U.S. letter, 8.5 by 11 inches. A single-column layout is strongly preferred.

Filenames. Descriptive and unique, 50 characters or fewer including spaces, with one space between words, and avoiding the ampersand and other special characters. A small number of attachments require an exact filename, such as the VCOC certification. Do not rename those.

PDFs. Generate your PDFs from your word processor rather than by scanning. No password protection or security settings, and no embedded bookmarks or active links except where the NOFO specifically allows them.

Hyperlinks and URLs. Not allowed unless the NOFO specifically permits them, and effectively never inside page-limited sections. Reviewers are instructed to ignore off-page material, so a hyperlink inside a page-limited attachment does nothing for you and can create a compliance issue.

Page Limits

Specific Aims: one page, exactly.

Research Strategy: six pages for Phase I, twelve pages for Phase II, Fast-Track, and Direct to Phase II. A Fast-Track application must cover both phases within that single twelve-page limit.

Commercialization Plan: twelve pages, required for Phase II, Direct to Phase II, Phase IIB, Fast-Track, and CRP applications.

Project Summary/Abstract: 30 lines of text.

Project Narrative: two to three sentences on public health relevance.

Biosketch: five pages per senior or key person. As of January 25, 2026, biosketches must be produced through SciENcv. A hand-built biosketch is no longer accepted.

Why This Is Worth Getting Right the First Time

None of these rules are about the strength of your science or your commercialization story. That is exactly what makes them dangerous. Exceeding a page limit, especially on Specific Aims or the Research Strategy, is one of the most common triggers for automatic rejection, which means a compelling project can be returned without ever reaching a reviewer over something as avoidable as font size or margin width.

Build every attachment to these specifications from the start. Reformatting a nearly finished document to fit a page limit almost always costs you substance you did not intend to cut, and it invites exactly the kind of last-minute error these rules are designed to catch.

FAQ

What fonts are allowed in an NIH SBIR/STTR application? Arial, Georgia, Helvetica, or Palatino Linotype, at 11 point or larger. Figure captions, equations, and symbols may go smaller only if they stay legible at 100 percent zoom.

How long can the Research Strategy be? Six pages for Phase I applications. Twelve pages for Phase II, Fast-Track, and Direct to Phase II applications, with a Fast-Track needing to cover both phases inside that same twelve-page limit.

Can I include hyperlinks in my application? Not unless your NOFO specifically permits them, and even then, effectively never inside page-limited sections. Reviewers are instructed to ignore off-page material, so hyperlinks inside page-limited attachments serve no purpose and risk a compliance flag.

Do biosketches still need to be built by hand? No. As of January 25, 2026, biosketches must be produced through SciENcv, and a hand-built biosketch is no longer accepted.

What happens if my Research Strategy or Specific Aims goes over the page limit? It is one of the most common triggers for automatic rejection. The application can be returned without review, regardless of the quality of the science inside it.